Jeremiah 41:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 41:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,
Jeremiah 41:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it came to pass, the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, etc.] That is, the day following, for it was in the night, as Josephus relates, as before observed, the murder was committed: and no man knew [it]; not any out of the city, or in remote parts; for those that were in the city must be sensible of it; but as yet the report of it had not reached the neighbourhood, and much less distant parts; this is observed on account of the following story, and to show how easily the persons after mentioned were drawn in by Ishmael.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“no man knew it--that is, outside Mizpah. Before tidings of the murder had gone abroad.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“No man - No man who lived at any distance from Mizpah. Jeremiah 41:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“41:4-5 The murderers kept their deed secret until the next day, when men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria to the north arrived on their way south to the ruins of Jerusalem. Their appearance and the offerings they carried indicated that they were on their way to plead for mercy from the Lord (Lev 2:1; 14:2-9). The annual Festival of Shelters was held at this time of year at the Temple (Lev 23:33-36), and the eighty worshipers were probably unarmed.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“after: Sa1 27:11; Psa 52:1, Psa 52:2 Jeremiah 41:5”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“On the next day after the murder of Gedaliah, "when no man knew it," i.e., before the deed had become known beyond Mizpah, "there came eighty men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria," having all the tokens of mourning, "with their beards shaven, their clothes rent, and with cuts and scratches on their bodies (מתגּדדים, see on Jer 16:6), and a meat-offering and frankincense in their hand, to bring them into the house of Jahveh." The order in which the towns are named is not geographical; for Shiloh lay south from Shechem, and a little to the side from the straight road leading from Shechem to Jerusalem. Instead of שׁלו, the lxx (Cod. Vat.) have Σαλήμ; they use the same word as the name of a…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification